Fred Katz (born February 25, 1919) is an American composer, songwriter, conductor, cellist, and professor.
Always an enigma, even to his friends, musical peers and colleagues, Fred Katz at 89 years old, continues to confound the music business into the 21st Century with his capacity to innovate and his seemingly unique ability to take his music to even wider audiences, over 50 years since he crossed that imaginary line between the ‘straight’ play...
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Fred Katz (born February 25, 1919) is an American composer, songwriter, conductor, cellist, and professor.
Always an enigma, even to his friends, musical peers and colleagues, Fred Katz at 89 years old, continues to confound the music business into the 21st Century with his capacity to innovate and his seemingly unique ability to take his music to even wider audiences, over 50 years since he crossed that imaginary line between the ‘straight’ player and the jazzman.
The man, whose work with the Chico Hamilton Quintet in the 1950’s brought him particular attention, as did his writing and appearance in the award winning Tony Curtis and Burt Lancaster movie, ‘Sweet Smell of Success’, is still composing for a generation of musicians far removed from the early days of modern jazz.
Being persuaded out of a happy retirement in Orange County, California, by Book of Dreams Music’s chief executive Harry Paton Evans, the eloquent and sometimes mystic Mr. Katz accepted the challenge to write some...
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